How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 222 Return to the city

After Guo Zi left, Qingru's brows were furrowed with an inescapable sorrow.

Xu Wensheng asked, "What's wrong?"

Qingru sat down and murmured, "I was just talking in the heat of the moment. I don't have a fleet like that going to Sifang City."

After thinking for a moment, Qingru's eyes lit up. "Dr. Xu, could you lend me some money? I'll rent a fleet of ships and transport some cheap goods to Sifang City. We can hide inside."

Xu Wensheng's eyes widened. "You really dare to make something out of nothing?"

Qingru said awkwardly, "You saw it too. If we don't leave soon, he'll become an idiot sooner or later. He was already a bit slow during our conversation today."

Xu Wensheng gave a thumbs up, "You're amazing, you're really amazing."

Qingru hesitated for a moment, then perked up and said, "Just tell me if you can borrow it or not."

Xu Wensheng asked in surprise, "Hey? You're trying to scam me?"

Qingru smiled and said, "We shouldn't bother two people with one matter. Since we've already gone to so much trouble, let's ask Doctor Xu to lend a helping hand and save some of the people of Sifang City from their suffering. This would be a great blessing and would accumulate good karma."

Xu Wensheng said seriously, "We must believe in science and not be bound by feudal superstition."

Qingru flattered, "I know, I know, I also went to university. But there's nothing wrong with that. Dr. Xu, you only save a few people when you treat illnesses, but this time you may have saved an entire city. That's a huge achievement!"

Xu Wensheng couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Alright, seeing how sincere you are, I'll help you one more time. However, I don't need to pay. My family has business dealings with Sifang City, and for convenience, some large goods have always been transported by waterway."

Qingru asked in surprise, "You even have business in Sifang City?"

Xu Wensheng said, "Of course, Sifang City is a wealthy city, so it's normal to have business dealings."

Qingru said happily, "Then I'll leave it to you."

After thinking for a moment, Qingru asked worriedly, "Can you evade the Green Gang's inspection?"

Xu Wensheng smiled meaningfully, "Since you and your brother came to the hospital, has anyone caused you any trouble?"

Qingru exclaimed in surprise, "Really? You helped me?"

Xu Wensheng crossed his arms and remained silent, looking smug. Qingru was genuinely happy, "This is too good! I'm so jealous of you."

Xu Wensheng asked in surprise, "Jealous of me? Shouldn't you thank me?"

Qingru snorted lightly, "What I mean is, without our identification, my brother and I were almost beaten to death, but you said one thing and we were safe. It's good to have connections."

Hearing Qingru's lament, Xu Wensheng couldn't help but laugh, "A local official is more powerful than a distant one. If I went to Sifang City, my words wouldn't carry as much weight as yours."

Qingru nodded, "That's true." Then she became sad again, "If the situation weren't so turbulent now, asking the Chief of Staff for help might have been much faster."

Xu Wensheng nodded, "Yes, life will end even faster."

Qingru glanced at Xu Wensheng helplessly. Although she didn't want to agree, she couldn't refute it.

The reason why we haven't sought help from the government for so long is because Guo Zixing's disappearance is shrouded in mystery.

If left unattended, it could be considered a mess, something for General Guo to deal with. But if someone who disappeared in Nanjing suddenly reappears in Shanghai, that's a problem.

An investigation would uncover a large number of people. Even at a time when talent is so needed, it's not guaranteed that justice will be served.

After all, now that Commander Guo has accepted the "amnesty" and become a military governor, he is no longer the warlord who once ruled over territory.

Xu Wensheng's cargo ship was docked at Huatong Wharf, a British-owned enterprise where government officials were unlikely to come to inspect. However, as the Green Gang was a notorious gangster group in Shanghai, it had countless members scattered throughout the city, so Qingru had to be extremely careful.

Jiang Shen was left to recuperate in the hospital, and he would take Guo Zixing to the dock later. Qingru, on the other hand, went to the dock with Xu Wensheng to scout it out after get off work.

Huatong Wharf was large and densely packed, surrounded by shacks, crowded and chaotic, just like the kind of house Qingru had rented a few days ago. The rest of the place was filled with busy workers, those with work moving goods back and forth, and those without work squatting under the shade of trees.

Moving less means saving on a meal. Staying alive means keeping an eye on passing travelers to see if any small vendors need help carrying their goods.

Qingru could never bear to read it, because seeing these people was like looking at hell; there was no greater tragedy in the world. The poor people on the roadside rarely smiled; their faces were numb, as if living had become an instinct, and other needs had become luxuries.

Xu Wensheng shielded Qingru behind him, and the two of them arrived at the location of the Xu family's cargo ship.

"Second Young Master, what brings you here?"

As soon as they appeared, a shrewd-looking shopkeeper came over to greet them. "I just came to see where this cargo is going?"

The shopkeeper didn't ask the boss why he had suddenly come to the dock. He replied, "This ship carries goods from all over the world. It mainly goes up the Yangtze River and brings back the goods along the way after it's finished transporting them."

Xu Wensheng understood immediately. Factories always produce some defective products, but these don't affect their usability. To save costs, these goods also need to be sold. However, since no one orders them, they are transported to ships and sold along the river, with another boatload of goods brought back on the way.

Xu Wensheng's heart skipped a beat, and he pulled Qingru up to check.

The cabin was filled with fabrics, gloves, socks, and the like. They weren't very well made, but they were usable. These kinds of handicrafts are in high demand in remote areas.

After making a show of inspecting the place, Xu Wensheng finally revealed his purpose.

"Ahem, well, find this little guy of mine some work. She's skinny and nimble; I picked her up as a beggar on the street. Just find her something to do, but don't make her too tired."

The shopkeeper looked Qingru up and down, and seeing that he was dark-skinned, thin, and small, he agreed, "Carrying heavy loads is probably not an option, but you can keep accounts for me. Can you read?"

Qingru hurriedly replied, "I don't know how to read much, but I should be able to keep accounts, right?"

The shopkeeper slapped his forehead. "How could I forget? You're a beggar. How could a beggar read? Never mind, you can count, right?"

Qingru said, "I know how to do this, I know how to do up to a hundred."

The shopkeeper nodded. "It's not that you can't do anything. Alright, you can just follow behind me."

Qingru crisply agreed.

After saying that, the shopkeeper told Qingru to take a walk around the cargo ship so that she could get a good understanding of its condition.

Only after Qingru was opened did the shopkeeper ask, "Second Young Master, why did you bring a woman with you?"

Xu Wensheng asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

The shopkeeper chuckled, "Second Young Master, I can tell how many people come back to the dock every day with just a glance. But don't worry, not many can tell, after all, not everyone has such a sharp eye as me."

Xu Wensheng was speechless for a moment, but after thinking for a while, he said, "This child has offended the Green Gang. You can help send him back to Sifang City. The boat will depart at 10 p.m. the day after tomorrow. Remember to take one more person with you."

The shopkeeper asked, "Who is it?"

Xu Wensheng paused for a moment, then said, "Don't worry about that. Just make sure they get to Sifang City safely. Do you think our Xu family is afraid of the Green Gang?"

The shopkeeper said with difficulty, "I'm not afraid. If there's no one else on the boat, I guarantee I can send the person back safe and sound. But what if the Green Gang comes to search?"

Xu Wensheng thought for a moment, "If someone really comes to search, just throw her into the water, and then pull her out after they leave."

The shopkeeper swallowed hard. "Alright then."

With the agreement reached and Qingru returning, the plan proceeded smoothly.